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| Sunday, 24 November 2002 |
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'His bedside diagnosis blossomed fully' by Dr. P.R. Anthonis The heights by great men reached and kept The above applies to late Dr. George Rajanayagam Handy whose 100th birthday was on the 29th October 2002. Coming from an illustrious family in Jaffna, his father late Rev. C.C. Handy, the first Ceylonese to act as Principal of St. John's College, Jaffna and in whose memory stands Handy Memorial Library - Dr. G.R. Handy was left with a widowed mother when he was only 6 years old. Helped by his elder brother Rev. J.T.N. Handy and the young boy's determination helped by the equally devoted mother he was able to join the Medical College. His school period was strewn with prizes in many subjects both at St. John's and Trinity College, Kandy. In the Medical College winning Lucy de Abrew Gold Medal, Dr. De Heer Memorial Prize for physiology and coming 1st in every exam and finally gaining first class he passed as a Medical Officer in 1927. Whilst in U.K. he won the Gold Medal in D.T.M. & H., and completing his clinical exam returned to Ceylon as the first post-war physician. We both knew each other well - I was the 1st post-war surgeon, in spite of being 8 years my senior. We developed a reciprocal admiration of each one's professional skill - a cardiologist the 1st in this country and yet contributing his skill in general medicine as a Consultant Physician at the General Hospital, Colombo, now the National Hospital. Soon his great skill in bedside diagnosis had blossomed fully. One had not much aids like ultrasound scan, C.T. Scan, M.R.I. Scan, Doppler tests, cardiac cathererizaiton, multiple blood tests. He has to depend on the cardiac sound by his stethoscope and from the physical signs observed a correct diagnosis was made. His amazing skill in bedside-diagnosis, I could fill whole pages, but I shall give a few which will be an eye-opener for the younger medical generation. From a rich family in China Fort, Beruwala a 22-year-old lady was admitted to a leading nursing home under a physician as she was running a continuous high fever with chills following a caesarean section for her 1st pregnancy. Blood tests for paratyphoid were positive yet in spite of it the fever was keeping up and there was extreme loss of appetite and lack of sleep. Again blood test for paratyphoid was positive. After about 3 weeks Dr. Handy was called in and after a careful examination he said this was not paratyphoid but that she had a localized infection in the peritoneal cavity. Soon after I opened the abdomen and removed a bag containing pus - she slept and within a week her temperature came down and she soon regained appetite and left hospital. Another gem merchant's wife full of gall stones was admitted under my care. All cardiologists said that she would not stand any operation due to a defect in her heart. The result was no anaesthetist would take the risk. Dr. Handy, who had retired, saw the case and pronounced that though the heart had that defect she would stand anaesthesia for even 5 hours. Finally she stood a successful operation anaesthetized by a young anaesthetist who was willing to take the risk and the patient insisted that she had complete faith in Dr. Handy's diagnosis. A lady, 56 years of age from a rich family was admitted and referred by Dr. Handy to Sulaiman Hospital with a diagnosis of gall stones. At this time ultrasound scan which had just been introduced showed a calculi and she wanted to leave hospital. Dr. Handy told her that she must undergo an operation without depending on the ultrasound scan. Her confidence in Dr. Handy was so much that the operation was done on the same day and removed 4 large stones. When Dr. Handy had acute appendix pain at 2.30 a.m. all the physicians wanted me to see the blood tests in morning. The patient, Dr. Handy said to me, after the others had gone away, "Dr. Anthonis, you are the surgeon you alone must decide" - within the next hour I operated and recovered a very bad appendix, he himself had diagnosed and did not want to hurt the feelings of senior physicians. He had a practice both in Cardiology and general medicine from Pt. Pedro to Dondra and across the whole country. He saw his patients many times, but at the end charged a small fee only. He was a good Christian attended Church regularly but had not time for the 'after service gathering'. In spite of his busy practice, he found time for an active social life. His simple and charming ways won the confidence and affection of his friends and patients. He was devoted to his family. They have reciprocated his affection and in his honour donated the Dr. G.R. Handy Memorial Unit constructed on the 3rd floor of the New Cardio Thoracic Building at the National Hospital, Colombo, a project spearheaded by his only daughter Dr. Sri Kanthi. They also donated a computer science lab to St. John's College in Jaffna in memory of this great man. There are also several scholarships for poor children who would otherwise not have been able to continue with their education. Some of Dr. Handy's famous quotes; "A man is as old as his arteries" "Man never dies, he commits suicide. He digs his grave with his own teeth". "Service is the rent we pay of the room we occupy on earth". |
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